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Home , Amy Ziering, Kirby Dick, The Invisible War

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“I DON’T THINK ANY WOULD THE CONTRADICT INVISIBLE THAT THE ISSUE WAS WAR EFFECTIVELY is a groundbreaking investigative documentary about one NOWHERE of America’s most shameful and best kept BEFORE THE secrets: the epidemic of rape within the U.S. military. The film paints a startling FILM “HIT.” picture of the extent of the problem — 1 in 4 women will be sexually assaulted during military service. Focusing on the PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE powerfully emotional stories of rape victims, The Invisible War is a moving indictment of the systemic cover-up of military sex crimes, chronicling the women’s struggles to rebuild their lives and fight for justice.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID “Many great documentaries have been nominated for Oscars, yet few if any have done so much to actually change culture and policy as quickly as The Invisible War“ The Huffington Post “An aptly infuriating expose of sexual abuse” Variety “A movie that cannot be ignored” Times

1 THE FILM THE WHO SAW IT

“AS A WOMAN IN 79 FESTIVALS THE MILITARY I in 22 countries APPRECIATE ITS STRENGTH AND 1.4K COMMUNITY SCREENINGS COURAGE. THANK From April 2012 - present, a minimum of 1418 distinct campus, military, community or institutional screenings U FOR SPEAKING of The Invisible War have been hosted by more than OUT! THE WHOLE 640 different organisations around the world WYOMING NATIONAL GUARD 110 CINEMAS WATCHED THIS June 2012 - release in US 100 cities / MOVIE…UR MAKING 50 screens and Canada 10 cities A DIFFERENCE. KEEP IT UP!!!” 2.1M TELEVISION TV VIEWER NICOLE Cumulative reach: 2,100,000. FARNHAM 97% coverage across the PBS network via

TELEVISION SPECIALS In an unusual departure for 17K DVD the show, Katie Couric devoted 17,410 DVD sales in the US and Canada a whole hour-long episode to The Invisible War. She asked Kathryn Bigelow and actress 739K ONLINE TRAILER VIEWS Jessica Chastain to watch the film and speak about it – even though they were originally AWARDS AND PRIZES booked to discuss their own 19 film –Zero Dark Thirty’s --Oscar campaign. “Katie” is the No. 1 syndicated freshman talk show WEBSITE VISITS on each week since its debut, 470K 282,532 InvisibleWarMovie.com (since July 2012) averaging 2.080 million viewers. 190,271 NotInvisible.com (since launch)

EMAIL LIST 145K 39,000 #NotInvisible email list 115,164 MoveOn.org petition email list

SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES 47K 36,716 Facebook members - posts frequently engage over 2,000 users 8067 Twitter followers #NotInvisible has been mentioned in over 15,000 Tweets Handle @invisible_war has been 2 mentioned 20,000 times THE CAMPAIGN

THE CAMPAIGN

THE CAMPAIGNERS The campaign has been spearheaded by the The filmmakers and their team analysed filmmaking team of Ziering and Dick whose the political landscape and concluded that personal commitment to fight for change on the the one politically achievable reform that issue began in production and has continued could dramatically reduce sexual assault to drive the snowball effect of the campaign. was to remove adjudication of these The two have continued to make personal crimes from the chain of command. appearances at key political advocacy and public In order to achieve this the team wanted to: events. They have also been supported by a wider team including community screening 1. Dramatically raise public awareness about organisation Film Sprout, digital media the epidemic of Military Sexual Assault (MSA) strategists Fitzgibbon Media and educational 2. Create a national dialogue about the issue distributor ro*co Films, not to mention a whole 3. Motivate the press to substantially host of other freelancers and media PRs. increase its coverage of this issue and its investigative reporting of these crimes CAMPAIGN AIMS 4. Spur the military one to initiate The Department of Defense estimates internal changes there were a staggering 26,300 violent sex 5. Build a national community crimes in the military during 2012. 20% of of active survivors all active-duty female soldiers are sexually assaulted, and female soldiers aged 18 to 21 6. Effect policy change at the level of Congress accounted for more than half of the victims. and the Department of Defense

3 THE CAMPAIGN

HOW THE CAMPAIGN WORKED began to take a leading role on this issue, the team was in a position to guide This campaign was a strategic combination them toward championing removing of awareness building at the grassroots, so adjudication from the chain of command. advocates could exert pressure on political decision makers via a series of petitions as well The campaign was highly coordinated; during as working to sway grasstops decision makers. each hearing related, however tenuously, to the issue, the team showed The team decided to begin THE CAMPAIGN up, tweeted and documented building alliances with key which members were in members of House, especially WAS HIGHLY attendance and which were Republicans since they CO-ORDINATED; not, then called upon tens controlled the House. They DURING EACH of thousands of supporters did this by establishing close HEARING SEMI- to tweet public messages of one on one relationships with RELATED TO THE “thank you” to members who key politicians and their staff, had stood up for survivors always representing the issue ISSUE, THE TEAM SHOWED UP and ‘Why don’t you stand and the film as bipartisan. up for survivors of military They arranged for screenings to rape?’ to nonparticipants. Congress, kickstarted by two early screenings This, coupled with petitions, and delivered on Capitol Hill. The team has distributed DVDs, and legislative aides and staffers hundreds of screeners to congressional talking to their members all had an impact. staffers and delivered ESTABLISHING They built up a cohort of influential supporters the film to new including Katie Couric. In Summer 2013, CLOSE ONE members following the she organised and hosted a screening ON ONE 2012 election cycle. and panel discussion of the film at the RELATIONSHIPS Simultaneously, they Aspen Institute, a prominent Washington WITH KEY worked with Susan DC based policy studies organisation. REPUBLICANS Burke, the leading In addition the team coordinated with AND THEIR attorney on this issue, other groups already committed to the STAFF, ALWAYS who is also in the issue – advocacy organizations, executive REPRESENTING film, holding a series producers, members of Congress – and of meetings over a engaged new ones to stand for the cause, THE ISSUE AND year long period with THE FILM AS including veterans groups, women’s advocacy nearly two dozen organisations and think tanks, all mobilised BIPARTISAN senators and/or their via an extensive screening programme and staff. As a result, online communications programme. when these senators

4 THE CAMPAIGN

COMMUNITY SCREENINGS hosted by an organization or institution after its initial screening. Such frequency Since April 2012, a minimum of 1418 of use demonstrates the film’s value to distinct campus, military, community or screening hosts, particularly on military institutional screenings of The Invisible bases, for their ongoing training, education War have been hosted by more than 640 and awareness-building challenges. different organisations around the world. 63 of these screenings were on AUDIENCE military bases in countries including Afghanistan, Germany and Kuwait. Audience tallies (reported on 77% of screenings), suggest:

HOSTS • At least 306,000 people saw The Invisible War in a nontheatrical • Over 36% of the total screenings were screening facilitated by Film Sprout hosted by active-duty military installations; • Informal estimates are that up to • Over 28% were hosted by college campuses; a million members of the armed • Over 15% were hosted by forces have seen the film veterans’ organisations; • An estimated 266,000 were active-duty • Beyond military, college and veteran military or civilians working on active- screenings, the remaining screenings duty military installations; an estimated were sponsored by a gamut of community 40,000 were non-military civilians screening hosts, including survivor Additionally, media mentions of the issue, networks, assault crisis centers, faith film and/or the work of partners have groups, volunteer and civic organizations, increased exponentially over Summer public libraries, and local chapters of 2013. In a sample two week period there the American Association of University were more than 10 media hits each day Women, among other organisations; surrounding the issue, primarily from notable • A full 33% were “repeat screenings”— mainstream media outlets. In total there have second or third or even tenth showings been more than 21,000 media mentions surrounding the film, campaign and issue.

5 THE CAMPAIGN

ONLINE TRENDS in May (surrounding key legislation, a Google Trends shows that search interest coordinated politcal push around the for “The Invisible War” significantly peaks for issue and the broadcast premiere on PBS). the first time in January 2012 (premiere of Correlative to the incline of “The Invisible the film at Sundance), again in June 2012 War” is search interest for “military sexual (theatrical release), October 2012 (ancillary assault.” There is a steady climb and rise in release – DVD and iTunes), in February the popularity of the issue that matches the 2013 (), and again increased public awareness of the film.

KEYWORD MENTIONS ONLINE (VIA GOOGLE & TWITTER)

The Invisible War is shocking and unbelievably devastating and so so so important to see. @invisible_war In the military, rape is “an occupational hazard.” Review of 11,218 TWEETS the shocking The Invisible War. Military rape victims need 20K justice: : Rape in the military is epidemic, yet 2,678 TWEETS only a few cases go to ... 4239 TWEETS

10K

JAN 12 JUNE 12 OCT 12 FEB 13 MAY 13 SUNDANCE THEATRICAL DVD RELEASE ACADEMY KEY PREMIERE RELEASE AWARDS LEGISLATION PBS BROADCAST

KEY

• “INVISIBLE WAR” (GOOGLE) • “MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT” (GOOGLE) • “INVISIBLE WAR” (TWITTER) • “MILITARY RAPE” (TWITTER)

6 THE FILM THE CAMPAIGN IMPACT & ACHEIVEMENTS

Jan 2012 SUNDANCE

Apr 2012 DEFENCE SECRETARY PANETTA ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVES TO COMBAT MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT (MSA)

May 2012 CINEMA RELEASE

June 2012 ARMY, AIR FORCE AND NATIONAL GUARDS START TO USE THE FILM AS A TRAINING TOOL TO COMBAT MSA

Oct 2012 DVD & ONLINE RELEASE

Nov 2012 AF WING COMMANDERS ORDERED BACK TO BASE TO WATCH THE FILM

Jan 2013 HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE HEARING ON MSA

PETITIONS DELIVERED TO June 2013 CONGRESS BY MSA SURVIVOR TRINA MCDONALD

PRODUCTION BUDGET CAMPAIGN BUDGET 7 US$ 450,000 US$ 450,000 CAMPAIGN IMPACT & ACHIEVEMENTS CAMPAIGN IMPACT & ACHIEVEMENTS

The major impact of this campaign can be seen in the top level of political buy-in on the issue as well as the way that the military has begun to address Military Sexual Assault head on in a public sphere as well as behind the scenes, the entire Joint Chiefs of Staff having viewed the film.

WITHIN THE MILITARY There are many indications that the military hierarchy is taking serious steps to address the issue of Military Sexual Assualt (MSA). Senator Blumenthal, a member of the years of reading briefing papers on this issue.” Senate Armed Services Committee credits In May 2013 The Army National Guard the film with “changing the conversation 1-174th Air Defense Artillery Battalion threw out within the military.” The Pentagon has their manual and replaced their annual sexual matched the rhetoric with funds, increasing assault prevention and response training with a the amount it spends on combatting screening of the film followed by a conversation sexual assaunt by $30-$50m annually. with film subject and survivor, Kori Cioca.“What In July 2012, only 6 months after the Sundance played out that Sunday morning was the single premiere, The Army, Air Force, and National most amazing experience I have had in my Guards started using film as training tool to 10+ year military career….I have no doubt that combat MSA. The film is now soldiers left that room changed… officially incorporated and SEN. In all my years attending sexual implemented into the Army BLUMENTHAL, assault prevention training, I have SHARP (Sexual Harassment/ A MEMBER OF never once heard anyone talking Assault Response and Prevention) THE SENATE about it after it was over. But now we are. And now we understand Program training for military ARMED and civilian personnel, in that there is work to be done, and in compliance with Vice Chief of SERVICES order to make a difference we have Staff of the Army and Secretary COMMITTEE, to talk, we have to stand up and of the Army directives. CREDITS THE speak out against it and we have to do it together.” Army Captain In November 2012 the film FILM WITH caught the attention of General “CHANGING THE In the same month the largest ever Welsh, Chief of Staff of the Air CONVERSATION overhaul of the military occurred Force, who flew all AF Wing WITHIN THE when sixty serving personnel were Commanders from bases around MILITARY.” dismissed due to revelations of the world to the Pentagon. This sexual misconduct. The head of in itself was unprecedented event SAPRO (The Sexual Assault Prevention and signalled his commitment to the issue. and Response Office of the Department of Defence) and the Commandant at Marine Following a private screening of the film, one Barracks Washington were both reassigned/ former Chief of Staff who had recently stepped fired. They were featured prominently in the down from running one of the most powerful film and the timing of their dismissal correlated branches of the military told the filmmakers, with the opening of the film theatrically. that he “learned more about this issue in the 90 minutes spent watching it than he had in forty In July 2013 the US Army Materiel Command

8 CAMPAIGN IMPACT & ACHIEVEMENTS Headquarters purchased 152 Institutional seeing The Invisible War. At that hearing, which & Public Viewing copies of The Invisible War included testimony from assault victims, nearly to be used at 128 sites across the world, all Senators spoke of the value and impact of marking the film’s official incorporation into the film and its message, and all six Pentagon the Army SHARP (Sexual Harassment/Assault generals testified that had seen the film. Response and Prevention) Program training In February 2013, during Sen Hagel’s for military and civilian personnel. This was confirmation hearing as new Defense in compliance with numerous directives Secretary, Senate Armed Services Committee which had been issued by Vice Chief of Staff members questioned him on MSA and of the Army and Secretary of the Army. made references to the film. During his commencement ceremony at the United DEFENSE POLITICAL States Military Academy at West Point, SECRETARY TRACTION Hagel told cadets that sexual harassment PANETTA Two years ago, before the and sexual assault in the military are a ANNOUNCED film came out, the US Senate “profound betrayal” and charged them with NEW was so fearful of taking on the responsibility to stamp out the sexual INITIATIVES the military on military sexual assault problem plaguing the military. TO COMBAT assault that the filmmakers In May 2013 multiple senators, led by key could not get one senator to be advocate Senator Gillibrand, introduced new MSA TWO interviewed about the issues. DAYS AFTER legislation, the Military Justice Improvement Act (MJIA) that would move the decision to WATCHING Today, so far, there have been a total of 20 pieces of investigate and prosecute MSA out of the THE FILM new legislation introduced chain of command, a key campaign goal. to address the United States’ The draft of this bill had been informed by MSA epidemic in the short time since the the campaign team’s careful advocacy. film’s release. As most of this legislation had The team launched a campaign empowering never been presented or imagined prior, and grassroots supporters to call their senators to as several senators have told the team that ask them to cosponsor they penned the legislation or signed on as the MJIA and have logged THERE HAVE BEEN a sponsor as a result of watching the film, it 2223 calls so far. Valerie A TOTAL OF 20 is safe to say that The Invisible War was the Jarrett (Senior Advisor to PIECES OF NEW direct progenitor of these legislative acts. President Obama) told LEGISLATION There was an early win in April 2012 when Ziering and Dick that she INTRODUCED TO Defense Secretary Panetta announced and the President had ADDRESS THE new initiatives to combat MSA two days seen the film, thought it was “brilliant” and UNITED STATES’ after watching the film as part of early MSA EPIDEMIC IN influencer screenings and advocacy on that the President, post Capitol Hill. One of Panetta’s initiatives viewing, had convened a THE SHORT TIME was removing the authority to handle MSA meeting with his senior SINCE THE FILM’S out of the hands of junior commanders. officials to tell them RELEASE they were now charged There have also been unprecedented with “exponentially hearings on the issue by various committees stepping up their game on this issue”. In including the full House Armed Services May 2013 President Obama vowed publicly Committee in January 2013, the first on to “end the scourge” of military sex abuse. the issue in 20 years. This included many The Vice-President has also seen the members the team had carefully selected film as has the majority of the Senate. and encouraged to take a lead on the issue. At an early summit meeting the team Two months later, Senator Gillibrand, Chair concluded that it would be impossible of the Senate Armed Services subcommittee to get the various campaign groups to on personnel held the first Senate hearing on agree on supporting a specific political the issue in a decade, a decision made after

9 CAMPAIGN IMPACT & ACHIEVEMENTS

ask. However several did coalesce around AAUW is supporting.” (American Association the MJIA including Iraq and Afghanistan of University Women, Metro St Louis) Veterans of America, Service Women’s Action The screenings have led to increased funding Network and Protect Our Defenders which of interview subject Susan Burke’s lawsuit was a step forward in itself for the field. and increased awareness of the work of “Only the U.S. Congress can amend the two of the national outreach partners Uniform Code of Military Justice. The U.S. Service Woman’s Action Network (SWAN) Senate must act swiftly to move the decision to and Protect Our Defenders (POD). prosecute sexual assault in the military out of The filmmakers worked with one of their the chain of command.” executive producers, Regina Kulik Scully, to In June 2013 Trina McDonald, one of the survivors launch a groundbreaking trauma recovery in the film, personally delivered a petition with program for survivors of military sexual these words, with 115,086 signatures to the US assault: the Artemis Rising Invisible War Senate, along with the petition of congressional Recovery Program (http://www.notinvisible.org/ partner and champion, Rep. Jackie Speier and the recovery_program). The program had its first Courage Campaign which had gathered 85,000. 14 day program in February 2013 attended by contributors to the film, a recognition of the Unfortunately, in June 2013 the Senate Armed courage it took for them to come forward and Services Committee voted 17-9 to keep the speak. The second took place in June 2013 and current system of prosecuting assault cases in there will be one more for men in October. place. This was undoubtedly a disappointment Monitored by a Stanford researcher, it is a first given that in March this committee had held of its kind residential program to develop a its first hearing on the issue in a decade. specialised and effective non pharmaceutically However, illustrating the nature of top level based treatment to reduce/eliminate MST support, the Pentagon rolled out seven new related Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). rules in August 2013, improving how the military $1M has already been raised to coninue to will prosecute and investigate sexual assault. pilot the programme over the coming year. in September 2013 the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services CAMPAIGN PARTNERS (DACOWIT) voted overwhelmingly in support of removing the decision whether to prosecute Official “Impact Partners” of social sexual assaults and other serious crimes action campaign, #NotInvisible: from the chain of command. Historically, Protect Our Defenders DACOWITS’ recommendations have been Give an Hour very instrumental in effecting changes to laws Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) and policies pertaining to military women. David Lynch Foundation Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) CAPACITY BUILDING American Association of University Women (AAUW) While MJIA has yet to pass, Sen Gillibrand UltraViolet has 39 official cosponsors and the support Fledgling Fund she needs from close to 60 Senators and is Women Donors Network planning to reintroduce the bill at the end of Peace Over Violence 2013. In addition other organisations have Futures Without Violence used the film to fundraise for themselves: RAINN “Our event was intended to raise money Boston Area Rape Crisis Center for AAUW’s Legal Advocacy Fund, which is Women’s Media Center: Women Under Siege supporting three of the cases that were filed… Equality Now We raised a little over $2,000 in support of The Soldiers Project the law suits... the movie was reinforcement NYCLU for those who have been following the cases Plus many more further partners. 10 CONCLUSION

The campaign team has ensured that the the scourge.” There has been a raft of issue of Military Sexual Assault has remained unprecedented legislation which has tackled constantly in the public eye, coordinating MSA from multiple angles, a signal that the a sustained grassroots campaign around campaign has managed to create a change strategic tentpoles such as the Academy in culture within that most conservative Awards, and generating sustained press of institutions, the US military. This will coverage. High level military and crossparty need further sustained advocacy over a political support has signalled a shift considerable period of time, a commitment in public discourse, acknowledging the the campaign has already made. gravity of the issue and pledging to “end

“THE HIGH QUALITY OF THE FILM AND THE INVOLVEMENT OF SURVIVORS BOTH IN THE FILM AND THE FOLLOW UP WERE CENTRAL TO THE FILMS ABILITY TO CREATE ACTUAL CHANGE” PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE

11 TEAM BIOGRAPHY

DIRECTOR PRODUCER produced ’s KIRBY DICK is an Academy and Emmy previous film, Outrage, an indictment of the Award nominated documentary director. hypocrisy of powerful, closeted politicians His prior film, Outrage, was nominated and the political and media institutions for an Emmy Award for Outstanding that protect them. . Ziering also codirected and produced In 2006 he directed This Film Is Not Yet Derrida, a complex portrait of the world- Rated, a breakthrough investigation of renowned French philosopher Jacques the highly secretive film ratings system Derrida which won the Golden Gate Award that compelled the MPAA to make at the San Francisco Film Festival. long overdue changes. In 2004 he directed , the story of a She is the 2012 recipient of the man confronting past sexual abuse by a Nestor Almendros Prize for Courage Catholic priest, which received an Academy and Filmmaking, the 2013 Ridenhour Award nomination for Best Documentary Prize, and the 2013 Feature. Gracie Award for Outstanding Producer - News/Non-Fiction. Dick’s other films include Derrida and the internationally acclaimed Sick: The Life & Death Of , Supermasochist, which won the Special Jury Prize at the and the Grand Prize at the Film Festival. He is the 2012 recipient of the Nestor Almendros Prize for Courage and Filmmaking and the 2013 Ridenhour Documentary Film Prize.

12 AWARDS & PRIZES

Winner, Audience Award US Documentary, SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL Winner, Nestor Almendros Award, FILM FESTIVAL Winner, Silver Heart Award, DALLAS FILM FESTIVAL Winner, Best Documentary, SEATTLE FILM FESTIVAL Winner, Best Documentary, PROVINCETOWN FILM FESTIVAL Winner, Best of Fest, DOCUWEST DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL Winner, Best Human Rights Film, DOCUMENTARY EDGE FESTIVAL Winner, Best Documentary, FIND SPIRIT AWARDS Winner, Documentary Film Prize, RIDENHOUR PRIZES Winner, “Golden Tomato” Best Reviewed Film of 2012, Winner, Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking, FSU TORCHLIGHT AWARD Winner, Humanitarian Award: Media Advocacy, PEACE OVER VIOLENCE Winner, Outstanding Producer, News/Non-Fiction, GRACIE AWARD Winner, Distinguished Service Awards for Excellence in the Medium of Film, 17TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON VIOLENCE, ABUSE AND TRAUMA Winner, Media Excellence Award, 2013 END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN INTERNATIONAL AWARDS Winner, GirlPower Award, 2013 APCH GIRLPOWER AWARDS Winner, The Abby J Leibman Pursuit of Justice Award 2013, WOMEN’S LAW CENTER

NOMINATIONS: ACADEMY AWARD: Best Documentary Feature DIRECTORS GUILD AWARDS: Outstanding Directorial Achievement WRITERS GUILD AWARDS: Best Documentary Screenplay GOTHAM AWARDS: Audience Award INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY ASSOCIATION: Best Feature

CREDITS The media/publicity team was the combined efforts of: Nancy Willen, Susan Norget, Sunshine Sachs (Ken Sunshine), and PR Collaborative (Jamie Schor, Renee Tsao).

Kristin Cooney, Vice President of ro*co films oversees educational sales and outreach.

Freelancers Kathie Berlin, Ellen Pasternak, Paula Silver and Dorothea Sargeant were part of the outreach team during the Oscar campaign.

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